Primus

  • El Sobrante, CA
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  • Rock
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  • 1984
    started
  • Bio
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About Primus

Official Site: http://primussucks.com/ , http://clubbastardo.com/


Primus is all about Les Claypool; there isn't a moment on any of their records where his bass isn't the main focal point of the music, with his vocals acting as a bizarre side-show. Which isn't to deny guitarist Larry LaLonde or drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander any credit; no drummer could weave in and around Claypool's convoluted patterns as effortlessly as Alexander, and few guitarists would willingly push the spotlight away, like LaLonde does, just to can produce a never-ending spiral of avant-noise. All of this means that they are miles away from being another punk-funk combo like the Red Hot Chili Peppers; Claypool may slap and pop his bass, but there is little funk in the rhythm he and Alexander lay down. Instead, they're a post-punk Rush spiked with the sensibility and humor of Frank Zappa. Primus' songs are secondary to showcasing their instrumental prowess. Their music is willfully weird and experimental, yet it's not alienating; the band was able to turn their goofy weirdness into pop stardom. At first, the band was strictly an underground phenomenon, but in the years between their third and fourth albums, their cult grew rapidly. 1991's Sailing the Seas of Cheese went gold shortly before the release of Pork Soda. By the time of the album's 1993 release, Primus had enough devoted fans to make Pork Soda debut in the Top Ten. After touring for a year -- including a headlining spot on Lollapalooza 1993 -- Claypool revived his Prawn Song record label in 1994 and released a reunion record by Primus' original lineup under the name Sausage. In the summer of 1995, Primus released their fifth album, Tales From the Punch Bowl. It was another success, going gold before the end of the year. In the summer of 1996, Primus announced they were parting ways with their drummer, Tim Alexander. He was replaced by Brian "Brain" Mantia, who made his debut on The Brown Album, which was released in the summer of 1997. The covers EP Rhinoplasty followed in 1998, and a year later, Primus returned with Antipop. Antipop was a departure from previous Primus albums, as different producers were used on almost each track (including such notables as Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst, Tom Waits, South Park creator Matt Stone, and former Police drummer Stewart Copeland) and it featured such guest artists as Metallica's James Hetfield and former Faith No More guitarist Jim Martin. After a supporting tour wrapped up in 2000, Mantia left the band to join Guns N' Roses. Claypool talked about reuniting with former drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander in the press, but shortly afterward announced that Primus was going on indefinite hiatus. During the ensuing break, Claypool focused on recording the debut album by his side project, Oyster Head (who also included Copeland and Phish guitarist Trey Anastasio), as well as releasing his two-part solo outing, Live Frogs: Set 1 and Set 2. Primus reunited in 2003 with a lineup containing Herb Alexander to release an EP's worth of new material as a part of the Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People DVD set. The band focused on touring until 2010 when Alexander once again left the band. Claypool and LaLonde turned to former drummer Jay Lane, and the band went back into the studio to work on a new full-length. In 2011, Primus released their seventh album, Green Naugahyde. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine & Greg Prato, Rovi

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Music

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  • Lee Van Cleef
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  • Southbound Pachyderm
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  • Over The Falls
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  • The Devil Went Down To Georgia
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  • My Name Is Mud
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    My Name Is Mud
  • DMV
    primus
    Video
    DMV

Photos

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  • Les Claypool of Primus performs on the Ranch Arena stage during the Rothbury Music Festival 08 on July 4, 2008 in Rothbury, Michigan.
    Primus
    Les Claypool of Primus performs on the Ranch Arena stage during the Rothbury Music Festival 08 on July 4, 2008 in Rothbury, Michigan.
    Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
  • Primus
    Tod Brilliant

News

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  • Primus
    Primus Readies First New Album in 11 Years | Billboard.com
    www.billboard.com
    " in the form of Jay Lane, who was Primus' drummer in 1988 but left before the group recorded its first album, "Frizzle Fry." After recently playing w...
    Read More
  • Primus
    Sasquatch 2013: Mumford & Sons, The Postal Service, Sigur Ros, Vampire Weekend, Primus
    www.jambands.com
    Mumford & Sons, The Postal Service, Sigur Ros, Vampire Weekend, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Primus,The Lumineers and ...
    Read More
  • Primus
    Furthur, Pretty Lights, Primus, STS9, Grace Potter and More to Play All Good
    www.jambands.com
    Furthur, Pretter Lights, Primus, STS9, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Keller Williams with The Travelin' McCoury's, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue...
    Read More
  • Primus
    Primus Extend 3D Tour
    www.jambands.com
    Primus recently announced dates for their spring tour, which includes both a 3D-enhanced live musical performance and two sets per evening. The group ...
    Read More
  • Primus
    Primus and Gov't Mule Confirm Co-Headlining Show
    www.jambands.com
    Primus and Gov't Mule will co-headline a show this spring. The performance will take place at Charlottesville, VA's nTelos Wireless Pavilion on June 5...
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  • Primus
    High Sierra: Primus, Thievery Corporation, Steel Pulse, moe., Leftover Salmon & More
    www.jambands.com
    Primus, Thievery Corporation, moe., Steel Pulse, Leftover Salmon, The Greyboy Allstars, John Scofield Überjam Band, Emanicpator, The Infamous Stringdu...
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  • Primus
    Primus 4D Tour Causes Injuries Following Space-Time Continuum Gaffe
    www.jambands.com
    Primus have been forced to cancel their 4D tour after opening a rift in the fabric of space-time. The ambitious tour, which promised to bring fans bac...
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  • Primus
    Primus 4D Tour Causes Injuries Following Space-Time Conitnuum Gaffe
    www.jambands.com
    Primus have been forced to cancel their 4D tour after opening a rift in the fabric of space-time. The ambitious tour, which promised to bring fans bac...
    Read More
  • Primus
    Primus to Rerelease Sailing the Seas of Cheese
    www.jambands.com
    Primus will release a reissue their acclaimed album Sailing The Seas Of Cheese on May 21, 2013. The album has been newly mixed in stereo and Dolby 5.1...
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  • Primus
    TRI Will Host a Primus Q & A on Monday
    www.jambands.com
    Primus principals Les Claypool and Larry LaLonde will participate in a Q & A webcast through Bob Weir's TRI Studios next week. The live stream will ta...
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Tour Dates

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  • May 24 Friday
    George, WA, US Gorge Amphitheatre
    Buy Ticket
  • May 24 Friday
    Eugene, OR, US Cuthbert Amphitheater
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  • May 25 Saturday
    Portland, OR, US Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
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  • May 28 Tuesday
    Edmonton, AB, Canada Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
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  • May 29 Wednesday
    Calgary, AB, Canada MacEwan Hall, University of Calgary
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  • May 31 Friday
    Winnipeg, MB, Canada Burton Cummings Theatre
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  • Jun 1 Saturday
    St. Paul, MN, US Myth
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  • Jun 2 Sunday
    Chicago, IL, US Riviera Theatre
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  • Jun 5 Wednesday
    Charlottesville, VA, US Charlottesville Pavilion
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  • Jun 7 Friday
    Hunter, NY, US Hunter Mountain
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  • Jun 7 Friday
    Toronto, ON, Canada Danforth Music Hall
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  • Jun 8 Saturday
    Toronto, ON, Canada Danforth Music Hall
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  • Jun 21 Friday
    Fairbanks, AK, US The Blue Loon
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  • Jun 22 Saturday
    Anchorage, AK, US Moose's Tooth Pub
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  • Jun 24 Monday
    Modesto, CA, US Modesto Centre Plaza
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  • Jul 5 Friday
    Quincy, CA, US Unknown venue
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Discography

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  • Green Naugahyde (2011)
    Primus
    Green Naugahyde (2011)
    Prawn Song
  • Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People: Promo de Fromage (2011)
    Primus
    Animals Should Not Try to Act Like People: Promo de Fromage (2011)
    Interscope
  • Antipop (1999)
    Primus
    Antipop (1999)
    Interscope Records
  • Rhinoplasty (1998)
    Primus
    Rhinoplasty (1998)
    Interscope Records
  • The Brown Album (1997)
    Primus
    The Brown Album (1997)
    Interscope Records
  • Tales from the Punchbowl (1995)
    Primus
    Tales from the Punchbowl (1995)
    Interscope Records
  • Pork Soda (1993)
    Primus
    Pork Soda (1993)
    Interscope Records
  • Sailing the Seas of Cheese (1991)
    Primus
    Sailing the Seas of Cheese (1991)
    Interscope Records
  • Frizzle Fry (1990)
    Primus
    Frizzle Fry (1990)
    Prawn Song
  • Suck on This (1990)
    Primus
    Suck on This (1990)
    Prawn Song
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